POLAR PATTERNS
Each V44S capsule is independently switchable between three polar patterns - cardioid,
omnidirectional, and figure-8/bidirectional. The combination of different patterns and capsule
angles allows you to use a variety of conventional and unconventional stereo techniques.
PATTERNS
Cardioid
The Cardioid setting provides optimum pickup performance from the front, less from the sides,
and the least from the back of the microphone. It is primarily used to allow precise focusing on a
close-miked solo voice or instrument. This pattern allows the minimal amount of room sound to
get into the signal path if working close up.
Cardioid microphones also exhibit “proximity effect”. This is a boost in low frequency response at
close range. For example, a singer that is 1 inch away from the mic will have a much deeper
tone than one 6 inches away.
Keep this in mind, and experiment with microphone distance to
use it to your advantage.
Omnidirectional
The
Omnidirectional setting will allow sound to be picked up equally from all sides of the
microphone.
It tends to have a more natural low frequency response, as well as a generally
smoother response across the entire frequency spectrum.
It also can exhibit some directional
characteristics at higher frequencies. This setting allows the most room sound to be present with
the recorded signal.
Figure-8 (also known as “Bidirectional”)
This pattern
allows equal response on both the front and rear sides of the microphone capsule
assembly, with excellent rejection of sound from the sides of the microphone.
The Figure-8
pattern is used most commonly in stereo miking techniques such as Mid-Side and Blumlein,
which both involve a figure-8 microphone in some way.
Figure-8's can also used as room mics,to
record two sources with a single microphone (e.g., two vocalists on opposite sides of the
microphone).
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CARDIOID
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OMNIDIRECTIONAL
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FIGURE-8 / BIDIRECTIONAL
©2017 Vanguard Audio Labs, LLC. All rights reserved.
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